Thank you to everyone who read or left kudos for the last chapter. You are so wonderful.

Chapter 68: The chaos Tuesday continues

4:05 PM December 16, 2008.

Amanda: Just so you know, we landed in Tucson safely. We just arrived at the house like five minutes ago.

Amanda: We are just waiting for Nikki's dad to get back from his doctor's appointment.

Zack: Good to know. You can go ahead and ask. I know you want to know.

Amanda: I am trying to be polite.

Zack: I don't think you actually know how to do polite. You showed Penelope a video of Chad and Sharpay making out.

Amanda: In hindsight, that was in bad taste. Also, I tried to text message Sharpay first. However, she's not returning my messages because she's probably in class right now, even though she is supposed to be done for the semester.

Zack: Per Chad, she doesn't want to leave Jack to drown. So she's helping out even when she doesn't have to.

Amanda: That makes total Sharpay sense.

Zack: Actually, at this point, she is probably learning how to grocery shop like a normal person. Kerri volunteered. Before that, Shar was packing up Ms. Darbus's classroom. She wouldn't even let Chad go with her, let alone Ryan. She said that I needed both of them.

Amanda: That brave girl. I barely got Sharpay to shop at Target.

Zack: That was yesterday. They had to get sheets and blankets. Chad sent me pictures.

Amanda: So, what were the results? Although I think I know since Sharpay denied herself emotional support to clean out her favorite pseudo-mother's classroom.

Zack: I am 100% related to Chad Danforth. I definitely needed the support. So I thank Sharpay for letting me have her brother and boyfriend for the afternoon.

Amanda: Sharpay is a very self-sacrificing person. Too much, really.

Zack: I'm starting to see that. Sharpay is also throwing me a congratulatory dinner as soon as she has her credit card back.

Amanda: When we all get back, we will celebrate/commiserate together.

Zack: I'm not claiming Charles. So, there's no reason for commiserating.

Amanda: Nor should you. Also, I recommend avoiding Aunt Esther and Nana Danforth. They're both ablest as fuck.

Zack: That's not surprising. Chad has graced me with more stories of his hilariously screwed-up childhood. Those two women are absolutely miserable. Although we are lamenting that we didn't get to grow up together.

Amanda: I feel like it would've been adorable.

Zack: It could've been that way if Amy told anybody. She knew.

Amanda: What do you mean by that?

Zack: I have a trust fund.

Amanda:?!

Zack: Amy left it to me in her will. I was in her will by name. But her lawyer had instructions not to reveal that fact until my paternity came out. I also found that out today. It's not a lot, but enough to finish paying for college just in case.

Amanda: You decide you're done staying in the closet just for scholarship money? The team is full of assholes. I'm not even sure Chad is going to come back next year.

Zack: I'm not sure he is either. They are even worse to him than they are to me, and you know they're horrible to me. If not that, then I could always suffer a career-ending injury. Or I could be dealing with the retaliation situation that Penelope is currently dealing with. It's nice to have options. I just wish I could've grown up with my little brother too.

Amanda: I know you missed out on nearly 18 years that you can't get back. You can't dwell on that. What if games are good for no one. You have to decide what you're going to make of your life going forward.

Zack: Point.

Amanda: Are you going to be OK?

Zack: Eventually, yes. Chad is still with me. I'm reading over his essay before he emails it to Professor Stark-Rogers.

Zack: I think he enjoys reading medical journals a little too much. There were a lot of medical journal citations for an English paper.

Amanda: No one likes reading medical journals.

Zack: I think my little brother might be different.

XXXX

December 16, 2008, 4:45 PM

Why did Kerri volunteer to teach Sharpay how to shop on a budget? This was torture. She absolutely loved Sharpay. She was like the big sister Kerri always wanted to have. At this moment, she wanted to strangle the woman.

Maybe she agreed to this because Jackie was avoiding her and Jimmie currently. She's pretty sure that Jackie knows, but she's too afraid to ask. Or even talk about it because she doesn't want to make Jackie cry. Or herself, for that matter. So budget shopping with Sharpay was the Best option after spending an hour boxing up Ms. Darbus's personal effects.

"Why can't I just buy the prepackaged macaroni?" Sharpay whined as she picked up the container from the deli.

"The prepackaged macaroni and cheese is $6.00 a container. A pack of macaroni and cheese is 33¢. With other ingredients added, you can make six dinners of macaroni and cheese for the cost of the one prepackaged dinner." Kerri explained calmly.

"Today was not a good day. In addition to packing up Ms. Darbus's office, I also had to spend quality time at the lawyers with Penelope and Aunt Claudia. I have no desire to do anything harder than microwaving tonight." Sharpay said with a pout that probably would have worked on Chad.

Sharpay told her, Jackie, and Jimmie the real reason Ms. Darbus was leaving so suddenly this afternoon. That was the only time in two days that she and Jackie were in a room together for more than a few minutes. She left early, using her Aunt Teresa needing her as an excuse. Kerri was sure it was an excuse. She couldn't even make eye contact with either of them. Jackie had to know even if Kerri and Jimmie were trying to act like they weren't making out in Jimmie's car before class.

"Lucky for you the box stuff can also be made in the microwave or make Chad do it," Kerri said, annoyed.

"This is so unfair," Sharpay said as she put the package back. This is the third argument since they stepped foot into the grocery store 10 minutes ago. They were at Food Land Warehouse because it was cheaper, and Sharpay was apparently banned for life from Specialty Foods of Albuquerque.

"So, how are classes going?" Sharpay was obviously looking for something to talk about.

"Good. I think I'm going to survive finals week without crying. I already have my final project for the English class done. Too bad Kim isn't here for it. It's unfair that you get three weeks in college for winter break."

"Trust me, it's not that great. This year I get to spend those three weeks in a tiny apartment that may or may not have mice."

"How can the apartment be that bad? You have been living in a dorm room for the last four months. A dorm room that you shared with someone else." Kerri pointed out.

"At least in the dorms, we have somewhere else to go. We have a study room and the community room. There is even a computer lab in the basement." Sharpay muttered as she grabbed a loaf of fresh French bread from the deli.

"Yes, I know it's a whole dollar more than the normal bread. It's not cheaper if I refuse to eat it." Sharpay pointed out.

"I didn't say anything," Kerri said as she put a few things in her own cart. It was her weak to do the shopping because her mother worked the late shift this week.

"Speaking of not saying anything, do you want to talk about why Jackie is avoiding you?"

"I would like to say it's related to Kelsi being back and not accepting Teresa's offer to stay with them, but it's probably something else." 'Like me ending up with the guy she's been crushing on for the last year.'

However, Kerri was definitely not telling Sharpay that part.

"Is this something else related to how you ended up with one shoe Friday night?" Of course, Sharpay was going to ask about that. Tiffany has been hounding her about what happened.

"I will tell you the same thing I told Tiffany. We got tired of the dance in the cafeteria and went to the gym. You cannot exactly play basketball in high heels, so I took them off. We were playing so hard that I must've kicked it somewhere."

That was partially true. They did sneak out of the cafeteria where the ball was taking place to go to the gym. They were playing basketball, and she took off her shoes to play better. At some point, basketball became a make-out session. When they heard Coach Bolton coming in, they ran out of the gym so fast that she accidentally left one of the shoes behind.

At the time, she was grateful Jackie texted them to let them know that Teresa picked her up. That way, Jackie wouldn't ask about the missing shoe or that her date was covered in Kerri's lipstick.

On Monday morning, Coach Bolton returned the shoe to her during gym class and asked her to remember everything they covered in chapter 12 last year in Health Class. Chapter 12 was the safe sex chapter. She spent the remainder of the gym class hiding out from her gym teacher.

"For some reason, I don't believe you. Cinderella, what did you and your prince charming do in the gym? More importantly, does Jackie know?" Probably maybe, and that thought terrified her. Jackie knows her. You can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to your best friend.

"Nothing happened in the gym." Kerri was almost positive she stuttered twice when speaking that statement. "Nothing is going on between Jimmie and me. He's just a friend. Besides, he likes guys." That was not a complete lie either. He was just a friend who Kerri dragged in the janitor's closet sometimes during lunch this afternoon. Sharpay just rolled her eyes at her as she grabbed the pre-cooked bacon from the shelf. Thankfully Sharpay was kind enough not to point out that her own fiancé was queer.

"Don't even say it's cheaper to get the other stuff. You know it's not just a gay-straight binary? If it was, I wouldn't have a fiancé right now." Kerri spoke too soon.

"You remember that Jimmie had a crush on Troy and me last year." Kerri swallowed hard as Sharpay said that.

"What else do you know?"

"Only what the boyfriend of Chad's mother told me." Kerri had no idea what she was talking about until she remembered Coach Bolton was dating Chad's mom, a.k.a. the sister of Jackie's Aunt Mariah. For a metropolitan area with over half a million people, Albuquerque seemed like a really small town sometimes.

"Including the fact that Teresa had to pick up a crying Jackie. She may have gone looking for her boyfriend in the gym after her DJ set was over." Jackie knew. Oh fuck.

"I funked up?"

"Not by making out with the guy she's had a crush on but maybe by not talking about it right away. Real friends forgive you. Although they may need a few days to calm down first." Sharpay explained.

"I don't even know how to start this conversation, especially because she's avoiding me. I didn't mean to kiss her crush. It just kinda happened." Kerri confessed.

"I would suggest chocolate and an apology, but I don't think you'll find the good stuff here. So maybe just go with the apology."

"Actually, the chain is based in Germany, so the chocolate is actually delicious here."

"Good to know."

XXXX

December 16, 2008 6:15 PM

"I don't think the macaroni is supposed to be this crunchy," Chad said as he took a bite of the macaroni and cheese that his girlfriend prepared before he arrived. It dawned on Chad that he would do most of the cooking even though they agreed to split everything 50/50. At least she didn't cause the microwave to catch fire this time. Per Amanda, that's happened twice this semester.

"I don't think the cheese is supposed to be this runny. I don't know what went wrong. I followed the instructions." His girlfriend said, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Did you drain the water?" Chad asked her as he tried to eat another bite of the food. OK, this is definitely not edible. He likes his pasta al dente, but this was a whole nother level.

"You're supposed to drain the water?" His girlfriend asked in complete shock.

"Did you really read the instructions?" Chad asked his girlfriend, which got him an angry glare.

"Of course, I read the instructions. I don't remember anything about draining water."

"You know it's probably the fault of the microwave. There are different cooking times for different types of microwaves. You probably just need to cook it longer."

"I feel like Daniel chose the worst microwave on purpose, so it's possible that I needed to cook the macaroni longer," Sharpay reluctantly acknowledged.

"See, entirely not your fault. We just have to figure out how to adjust for the bad microwave. In the meantime, do you want grilled cheese or a turkey sandwich?" Chad said, getting up and walking into their kitchen.

"Grilled cheese," Sharpay told him with a disappointed pout.

"Anything else," Chad said as he grabbed the bread from the shelf. At least Sharpay put up the groceries.

"I'm good. Besides, we have to leave soon for Lamaze class." That was tonight, and Chad really wishes it wasn't. This has been way too long of a day. Was it too early to ask Zack if he wanted to be the birthing coach to their new siblings?

"By the way draining the water was instruction number two. Along with the note about adjusting time for microwave power levels," Chad said as he threw the macaroni box at her and went back to making their sandwiches. Sharpay didn't say anything until he returned 10 minutes later with slightly blackened grilled cheese.

"Maybe you should cook Friday. Ryan, Zack, and Taylor want to come over to see if the apartment is as bad as I said it was. So we'll host them for dinner before the talent show Friday." Sharpay said sheepishly as she took a bite of the sandwich.

"Of course, I will cook. We don't want to give our siblings food poisoning." That comment earned him the "you're so sleeping on the couch" look.

XXXX

December 16, 2008 7:20 PM

Chad and Sharpay pulled outside the Eastside community center 10 minutes before the class started.

"So, how is pseudo married life?" Tiffany asked as the two caught up with her in the hallway. At least she was kind enough not to ask about Zack. Chad isn't sure they told Tiffany yet about Charles possibly having more children. He will ask Zack about it on the plane tomorrow. Maybe they can invite Tiffany over Friday as well to break the news.

"My mother is a sadist who is getting way too much fun out of torturing us with a horrible studio apartment and homework assignments such as creating an actual budget. It doesn't even feel like we're on vacation." He got an email from her, but he hasn't opened it yet because Chad is unsure if it's about Zack or notes on their budget. He's not ready to deal with either possibility.

"I had so much fun with Kerri learning how to shop on a budget today," Sharpay said sarcastically as she picked up Tiffany's pillow from the floor.

"Were you able to get her to confess what happened Friday night?" Tiffany asked as they continued walking down the hall to the classroom.

"Yes, but she didn't tell me anything new," Sharpay said, not looking at Tiffany. The truth was Kerri told her everything, including making out with Jimmie in his car this morning. Kerri also made Sharpay promise not to tell Tiffany until she was ready to let other people know. She wanted to deal with the Jackie situation first. The plan's first step was leaving a massive box of chocolates in Jackie's locker tomorrow.

"I just don't believe that story. If it wasn't for the fact that the guy driving her home had no possible interest in her whatsoever, I would think that she and Jimmie arrived late because they were making out. There's no way she could be getting busy in the backseat of a car with a guy who has a boyfriend."

Sharpay could tell that her boyfriend was trying not to laugh but couldn't manage it. She shot him the "you're making a fool of us" look.

"This attitude is why I had an existential crisis junior year. Bisexual and queer people exist; I'm one of them."

"I know, but I'm not sure Jimmie is one of them," Tiffany remarked.

"You never know. Maybe Sharpay can talk to Kerri again tomorrow when she administers the drama class final exams. Now let's get through this exercise in torture called Lamaze class." Her boyfriend said, changing the subject.

"Point. I'm sorry I got you guys drafted as birthing coaches." Tiffany apologized.

"It's OK. Sharpay probably would have made us come anyway if my mom didn't. You know, for a woman who slept with her husband, you and mom get along really well."

"Because she's moved on to better things," Sharpay said so quietly that only Tiffany could hear as they walked into the room. Tiffany was laughing so hard Sharpay knew she heard her.

"We bonded over our similar taste in men. I'm just glad she finally got with the better one."

"I just remembered that you had a crush on Coach Bolton. You really like older guys," Chad commented.

"How old was your first boyfriend Chadwick? We don't judge." Sharpay asked poignantly.

"Too old for a 15-year-old. I am so looking forward to doing more sibling bonding. What can be greater sibling bonding than actually watching them be born?" Chad said this last part sarcastically. If they were not in a studio apartment, he would be on the couch tonight for that comment. It did not have the same effect because they were in the same room.

There were dozens of couples sitting on the floor preparing for class. Not all of them appear to be traditional couples. Sharpay is sure at least one of the groups was two men with their gestational carrier. At the front of the room was a middle-aged woman with dark curly hair, preparing a PowerPoint presentation. She quickly walked over to greet the three of them.

"You must be Tiffany. I'm Nurse Catalina Rodriguez, the instructor for this class. Dr. McKessie and your aunt told me you would be joining us. Now is this the father or just a friend you brought with you?" Sharpay was happy that this person didn't automatically assume Chad was the father.

"This is Chad, my babies' older brother, and his fiancée Sharpay. Chad's mother thought it would be good for both him and Sharpay to have an idea of what childbirth was like before they got married." Tiffany said to the nurse as they found an empty spot on the ground.

"That's a brilliant idea. If I had gone to this class before that night in the desert, I wouldn't be a single parent right now. You guys are in luck. Tonight we will be watching the childbirth video."

XXXX

December 16, 2008, 8:23 PM

(a.k.a. text messaging in the middle of the video)

beautiful fiancée: I'm having a cesarean. How does anybody push a baby out of someplace that small?

Chad: That seems fair. I'm surprised you didn't ask for me to have a vasectomy.

Beautiful fiancée: Don't tempt me. I'm going to go yell at Kim for not warning me.

Xxx

Pay Pay: Why did you never tell me childbirth was so traumatizing? I just watched the video. I'm still surprised I didn't throw up.

Kim: Because I actually don't remember it. Alex was an emergency cesarean. One moment I was getting T-boned, and the next minute I woke up in the hospital with dad cursing out his ex-wife in rapid Korean. Not that she was actually there.

Pay Pay: If she was actually there, your dad would be in jail for killing her.

Kim: Probably. I didn't even realize I had given birth when I woke up. Thankfully Vanessa was there to tell me everything was OK and that Alex was good even if he was in baby ICU.

Pay pay: I would've been they are in New York if you told me you were pregnant.

Kim: I know, and I'm so sorry about that. Although I will say that the baby is worth it no matter how painful the delivery is. Even when they say curse words when they shouldn't.

Pay Pay: I saw the video. Even though Alex is the best baby, I still want a cesarean.

Kim: Is there something you need to tell me?

Pay Pay: In like 15 years. I'm not planning to get pregnant anytime soon. Marc doesn't need to pay anybody off yet.

Kim: Good to know. Also, as somebody who went through a cesarean, they're not trauma-free either. Although I wish you luck on getting to plan out your pregnancy perfectly.

Pay Pay: You had your cesarean because your mother tried to kill you. That in itself is traumatic.

Kim: Valid point

Pay Pay: So how was today?

Kim: Good. I really enjoyed fucking with Mercedes. Also, I bought a new car. Not a Mercedes on principal. Cadillac Escalade.

Pay Pay: I saw all.

Pay Pay: The video of Mercedes passing out, not your new car. Although I do expect pictures.

Kim: [image one attached]

Pay Pay: Very nice. I wish you didn't go with black, but it's utilitarian.

Kim: No bright colors until I'm not being swarmed by the paparazzi regularly.

Pay Pay: I understand. I am very grateful that the convertible is now blue instead of pink.

Kim: Maria is less worried about Gabriella going back to the sorority house. It helps that Mercedes is gone for good. Honestly, she was only still there because of how much money they were getting from her parents.

Pay Pay: Money that you are now giving them.

Kim: It's a tax write-off, or so I've been told. My accountants are just happy I am creating an actual foundation instead of just giving my friends money.

Pay Pay: Hey, you're keeping Marc from going back to his abusive mom. Also, I'm not sure you count him as a friend.

Kim: He grows on you. How was your day?

Pay Pay: I only cried once when packing up the drama room. Considering everything that's happened today, that's a small miracle. Also, I found out the discount grocery store has delicious chocolate.

Kim: I'm sure you needed the chocolate.

Pay Pay: Yes, mainly because we could not get any alcohol.

Kim: You know you could've waited a little while until I got back. Jack and Mrs. Ortega are in no hurry to take over the other space.

Pay Pay: The principal is, though, and he's a jackass. He would've had the custodians come in and just throw everything away over winter break if I didn't do it. I had to do it now.

Kim: I hate that man so much.

Pay Pay: I think everyone does. I'm pretty sure I saw Jack working on his résumé.

Kim: That might be because he's thinking about relocating to the DC metro.

Pay Pay: That seems possible.

Pay pay: OK, the video just ended. Tiffany wants to introduce us to Jorge and Damien, along with his sister Daisy. She's their gestational carrier.

Kim: Good idea because that could be you for Ryan and Zach in a few years.

Pay Pay: Nope, that's going to be Taylor. Or Nikki as part of some mutual child agreement.

Pay pay: OK, I'm back. Jorge and Damien are super sweet, and they invited Tiffany for Hot chocolate/tea this weekend. Chad is just happy she is making friends.

Kim: She's super sweet. Tiffany needs more friends.

Kim: How is Chad taking the big brother thing. Troy told me the test was positive.

Pay pay: He is not in pure denial mode, which is a small miracle. Although he has yet to realize that his brother is now dating his ex. I think he will figure it out on the plane tomorrow.

Kim: Probably.

Pay Pay: And we haven't told Tiffany yet. We're thinking Friday. Chad is going to talk to Zack about it tomorrow.

Kim: That's probably for the best.

Kim: I have to go give Alex a bath and then we need to go to sleep early because we're going house shopping tomorrow.

Pay pay: It can't be that bad. You already bought a car today. That's one thing off your list.

Kim: A car is so much easier than a house. Also, I just let Chad and Troy pick it out. Madison's Chad. We have too many Chads.

Pay Pay: You already own one house. It can't be that hard to get a second one.

Kim: Dad helped with that. My former landlord really is done with renting to college kids. I am currently exploring the possibility of buying the place next door for Jack. But don't tell him that yet. Contracts have yet to be signed. I'm waiting for the results of the home inspection.

Pay Pay: I won't ruin your surprise.

Kim: I regret not bringing my dad with me. He's a real estate genius.

Pay Pay: You'll be fine. Keep me posted.

Pay Pay: Besides, at least you don't have to spend time with Kelsi tomorrow.

Kim: That's going to be a disaster.

Pay Pay: Catastrophically so.

To be continued…